Construction of reinforced-concrete ships.



J. c. SNELLING.

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2I, 1918.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

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1. 0. SNELLING.

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.21. 1918.

1,301 ,01 3. Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

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J. C. SNELLING. CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21,1918.

Patented'Apr. 15, 1919. I

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J. C. SNELLING.

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

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' J. C. SNELLING.- CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION man NOV-21.1918. 1,301,013. Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

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J. C. SNELLING.

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2I, IQIB.

Patented' Apr.-15, 1919.

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1. c. SNELLING. I CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHIPS.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

APPLICATION HLED NOV-21., 1918.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7- KW 27 L351 35/ @7 56 JOHN CHARLES SNELLING, JOF OHISWICK, LONZDON, ENGLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED-CONCRETE SHIPS.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed November 21, 1918. Serial No. 263,620.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN CHARLES SNEL- LING, a subject of His Majesty the Kingof England, and resident of Chiswick, in the county of London, Kingdom'of England,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Reinforced-Concrete Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of applying concrete and steelin the construction of reinforced concrete vessels of all types, so that no centering or false-- work is required thereby greatly reducing the cost, of construction over present methods and the risk attendant on the removal of such centering or falsework.

Although the present method may be applied to all types of construction of skeleton framework it has been found by experience that it is best suited to the special form of construction hereinafter described.

According to the present invention the vessel is built around a suitable metallic framework to the outside of which pairs of sheets of expanded or perforated metal are suitably connected, concrete beingfilled in between the sheets so as to form the shell or part of the shell of the Vessel. 7 The'keel of the concrete vessel so formed is provided with -'a protective metallic plate extending from the top of the stem to the stern where the plate is widened to carry the propeller shaft bearings and afterward carried upward and branched laterally and rearwardly so as to afford reinforcing. and strengthening members for the stern andthe sides of the vessel adjacent thereto, the plate being also connected by rivets or other suitable means to the longitudinal and central rein- 4 forcingkeel member.

- suitable intervals are placed the steel menu-V The steel members of the metallic framework used as reinforcing members in the keel are first laidin position on the building blocks. Interconnected and fixed to these at bers, which are to form with the concrete, the strong frames or ribs, these members being, before fixing, given their correct curves. Between these and connected thereto are placed the rods which form the horizontal members such as those forming the gunwale, inwale, sheer strake or other part of the ships framework. When all such members bottom showing the core boxes.

are in place the complete skeleton of the space between the perforated or expanded metal sheets being subsequently filled in with concrete to form the shell of the ship. As the entire operation of filling in the concrete is visible during the entire operation there is less danger of voids or empty spaces occurring and the reinforcing steelwork being fixed there can be no displacement thereof. Further according to the present invention vessels can be much more rapidly built than heretofore and the use of permanent core boxes or molds in the double bottoms or otherhollow parts besides being much more rapid, eliminates all risk of the concrete being displaced by the withdrawal of temporary coreboxes or molds. The reinforcing steelwork may be disposed in the most adcompanying drawings a method of constructing concrete ships or vessels in accord ance with the present lnventlon but I do not limit myself to the precise construction described and illustrated Figure 1 is a plan of a framework for use in constructing a small boat or vessel as for example a barge in accordance wlth the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a mid-ship section of Fig. 1. V Fig. 3 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale on the line 33 Fig. 4.

Fig- 4 is an enlarged section showing one ,form of keel-part.

Figs. 5 and 5 show a mid-ship section of a double bottom type of vessel in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the .line 66 Fig. 5

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail sectional views on the lines 77 8-8; 99 Figs. 5 and 5*, respectively, these views being drawn to an enlarged scale, and Fig. 9 showing in perspective the formation of the vertical and horizontal ribs or frames.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of part of the outer skin as preferred for use in small ships. J I

Fig. 11 is a plan view of part of the double Figs. 12, 18 and 14 are respectlvely aside view, an end view looking on the stem, and a cross section through the keel of a modified construction in accordance with the present invention. 1 r

The same reference numerals Wherever repeated indicate the same parts.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the longitudinal and transverseframeor skele: ton members of the vessel which members are formed of metallic rods and on the out-- side thereof are fixed spaced sheets 2, 3 (Fig. 2) of perforated or expanded steelor other suitable metal, the mesh generally used being that known as three-quarter inch. The sheets 2, .3 of expandedmetal pass outside of the longitudinal and cross membersl on one side, the sheets 3 being located between the longitudinal and crossmembers 1 (see Fig. 3)., and the sheets, in like manner, extend downward and outside the bottom members 4' and outside the members 1 on the other side of the vessel thus inclosing the framework and so forming an uninterrupted hollow body of channel or other suitable section. having open mesh work sides and bottom. The. space between the two sheets2, 3 is. regulated to requirement by suitable distance pieces 5 or pads preferably of concrete and of the shape shown in cross section. The inner sheet 3 of expanded metal is then firmly fixed to the frame members -1 and 4:, by wire bindings 6, clips or other suitable devices and the outer sheet 2 is separately fixed to the members 1 and 4 by wires-7 or other suitable devices. The sheets 2 may be bound or connected to the members 1 by'a common binding device such as-the wire 8, if so desired, (see: Fig. 3).

In Fig. 4c the central bottom longitudinal member 4 embedded in the upper part of the keel is shown as surrounded by a stirrup or binding piece 21 of expa-nded'metal which stirrup is connected by wire 22 or other suitable device'to the expanded metal sheet 3. A similar stirrup construction is shown in Fig.1 9. In working, the lowest strake or width of perforated or expanded metal is =first fixed, that is both the inner and 'outer sheets and the intervening space between them is then filled in with suitable concrete 23 well rammed around the skeleton. The View obtained through the meshes of the perforated or expanded metal enables the operator to see that all voids or empty or partially empty spaces are completely filled. As soon as the space is filled, a coat 24 of fine concrete of-suitable composition is a plied to the inner side of the expanded metal sheet 3, and a coat 25, to the outer side of theexpan'ded' met'alsheet 2, such fine concrete app-lied by hand as in plastering, or

in other suitable manner, and sufficient force bei'n 'a lied to insure a dense coatin and to thoroughly incorporate these coats with the concrete between Y the expanded metal the desired position. the longitudinal rods 9 are connected where through the meshes, thus very completely inclosing the whole. being applied the next strake or width of expanded metal is fixed: and the filling is proceeded with as before so that the whole operation is continuous untilthe vessel is finished. It will thus be seen that by the present method, asi th-ere is no centering or falsework to remove. the building is greatly facilitated and can be continued night and day unti-lithevessel is completed. It is intended that all strong frames and other.

necessary members be filled in with concrete as the workv proceeds thus rendering the whole homogeneous.

' A further feature of the invention provides for vessels constructed as above: but

having dou'blebottoms or other hollow parts. A doable bottom construction according to this further feature is shown in Fig. 5 wherein 9 are the longitudinalandvertical rods of the shell and 17 and 18 the inner and outer bottom metallic rods, these rods being preferably placed at suitable positions so as to retain the sheets 10, 11 of expanded metal, which areboth arranged outsidetherods, in In this construction both sheets of expanded metal outside the rods is that the concrete shall be absolutely While these coats are continuous and unbroken, thereby being in Y theibest form-t0- take the compressive stresses. Y

This onlyapplie's to the-outer shell of concrete more particularly shown in Fig. 9'. In forming the doublebottoms with the rods 17 and 18* I provide light coreboxes- 19' or forms which are placed inposition-where required with bent up sheets- 20 of expanded metal placedbetween them and the inside sheet; of expanded metal and extending up: the sides of the coreboxes which-are fixed as by wires to thesheets of'expanded =metalof' the adjacent shell Y parts. This Y construction allows of the formation. of suitable concrete strengthening webs 26 between the outer shell and innershell of the double bottom.

As and when the outer'skin concreteisbe ing applied the spaces between the sheets are also filled 1n and reinforcement and concrete is then appliedto form the top of the double bottom. This concrete,forming' as it does the lower floor of the vessel, is 'fin ished 01f smooth as required; It will be seen that. by; the use of these permanent core boxesor molds the :work can: proceed without'waitingfifor the concrete to harden as they. do notrequire to 2 be :withdrawn.

In the modification shown in-Figs. 12, 13 and 14,- thekeel structure o'f the-ship'comprises a-metal. plate 27, lb-utt or otherwise.

jointed at intervals along its length and extending up :thestemof the ships The plate passes under. the ship to'the stern and is bent upward to -form the-stern post'28 which is continued inan aft andupward' direction so as to E'form a- ;suitable reinforcement for the upwardly and rearwardly extending curved concrete stern portion of the ship. The plate is preferably widened at 29 wh'ere the propeller shaftindicated Joy-30 is-designed to passthrou g-h and tothi's widened part a suitable boss 31 or bosses or bearings are 7 attached to carry the propeller shaft. The stern 'post' 28 formed by the upwardly bent plate isprovided with: two or more laterally projecting ribs 32=33 whichmaybe welded or 1 otherwise secured to the-stern post. 'The -metal plate thuscarries three-or more upwardly projecting prongs 32-433 34 or projections some 32 33 of which are lateral projections andat-least one 34 0f which is a rearwardly and upwardly extending projection, thelatter projection be ing formed by the plate 27. Meansare also provided. for securing the attachments for the rudder.

The longitudinal-central metallic rod 4 or other suitable metallic member of any desired thickness is placed at a suitable dis tance above the keel plate 27 and extends along the keel only or along the keel and up the stem or partly up the stem and if desired also the stern, the said rod 4 being connected at intervals by split rivets 35, one end 36 of which is riveted to the keel plate while the split ends 37-38 of the rivets are bent around the longitudinal rod 4, the two combined forming the complete keel reinforcement members. The lateral rods 1, forming the transverse members of the skeleton frame-work may be connected to the longitudinal rod 4 by bending the ends of the transverse rods 1 around the longitudinal rod 4, as shown in Fig. 14, or by any other suitable means. The longitudinal rod 4 is preferably bent as at 39 (Fig. 12) downward at the stern end so as to grip the concrete, and the stern end 40 of the keel plate 27 is folded or turned around the rod 41 which forms the curved reinforcing stern member. Sheets 2, 3 of expanded metal are [placed outside the longitudinal and transverse rods 1 and 4 respectively and between these sheets distance pieces 5 are arranged at suitable intervals apart both longitudinally and transversely, the space between the expanded metal sheets being thereafter filled in with concrete.

- Stirrup :orbinding pieces 42 or: lengths of expanded-metal areplaced above the central longitudinal rod 4 and thesestirruppieces are connected by wire bending- 43 or other suitable-meansto the lateral rods or'metallic ribs. *Theouter sheet 3 of expanded metal may be' bulged or enlarged as at-44' to form a -hollow space 45-at each rivet and along the keel plate soas-toforma continuous sol-id keel throughout the ships length and may be connected between the-rivets and the keel plate as shown at 46. Therivets 35 preferably passthrough the inner sheet 2 of-expanded metal. The outer sheet 30f 16X? panded: metal thus forms a hollow openwork casing which partly ;or*if desired-wholly surrounds each rivet and provides a. suitable enlargement '-for' the reception of the concrete so that thelatter when-applied or filled in between the-sheets fillsu'p the enlafrgement and entirely surrounds andincloses the rivet on all sides thereby preventing access of "water between the keel plate and up between the-concrete and the body of t-he'rivet.

"After the concrete isfilled inga finishing coat of fine suitable concrete is applied to each side of the fille'd in concrete, thus providing a plane surface withoutprojections which are liable to crack or chip off in' the course' o'f time.

The construction of keel hereinbefore' de-' scribed provides for the combination ofan outside protective plate 27 or'other suitable stem and keel of the vessel and also itself taking its part in the reinforcing of these members in conjunction with the rod or rods inside the concrete the rods and concrete being connected together in a manner which presents the least possible area for water to act on the rods embedded in the concrete. It also provides a secure method of attaching the stern bearing or bearings and alining the same during construction, and allows the vibrations of the propeller to the absorbed over a. large area of reinforcing metal and concrete. Further the metal inclining toward the stern forms a solid support for the rudder attachments and affords a ready means of alining this with the propeller or propellers while the vessel is being built. v

Where watertight bulkheads, sub-divisions or floors are required the method of procedure is as for the vessels outer skin and such bulkheads, sub-divisions or floors are completed at the same time, the essential constructed of materials sufficiently strong to resist the ramming of the concrete between or on top of'them and they may; be of straw board, wood, or light metal either with plane surfaces, or ribbed, or corrugated for strength and according to the shape or size required; if desired they may be suitably interconnected so that the whole double bottom or parts thereof may be filled with water or other liquid for ballasting purposes; or they may be constructed of such materials as galvanized, tinned iron or other metal so as to form complete tanks or compartments suitable for the carrying of such liquids which would, if in direct contact with the concrete forming the structure do harm thereto.

Claims, t ,7

1. A reinforced concrete wall, comprising a frame or skeleton formed of adjacent longitudinal and transverse joined rods, sheets of perforated or expanded metal Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for lodged. between the longitudinal and trans-v verse rods, other sheets of perforated or expanded metal spaced from the firstnam'ed sheets, means connectin .the second-named sheets to-ithe rods, a filing of concrete be I:

tween thefirst and second named sheets, and a surfacing of concrete embedding the sheets and the rods. V

2. A concrete vessel having walls formed of spaced associated sheets of perforated or expanded metal, a filling of concrete between the sheets, alongitudinal rod having connections with the inner perforated 3 sheet,

and a stirrup piece of, perforated or expanded metal passedaround the rod. t

. 3. In a concrete-vessel, two'or more expanded metal sheets 'in associated spaced re-, lation, a *filling of concrete between the sheets to constitute walls of the structure, a keel for the vessel, and a lon'gitudinal central rod embedded the keel and having downwardly projecting end portion,

4. In a concrete vessel, a series of lo'ngi Vtudmal rods and transverse rods connected together, a filling of concrete around the rods to constitute the Walls ofthe structure and a keel for the vessel, a longitudinal centralrod embedded in the keel andfconnected to the transverse rods, a bottom plate'for the keel, and aseries of Vertical members I 65 connected to the longitudinal rod and to said plate and spaced apart along the rod and embedded in the concrete. j,

JOHN CHARLESSNE LING.

live cents each, by addressing the tfiomniissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. j 

